#Wordless Wednesday
Linnet
birdwatching
If you go deep into the woods.
If you go down to the woods today what can you see?
A full day in the New Forest collecting our trail cameras from one of the active Badger Setts we have been monitoring. Some good footage of both Badgers and Fallow Deer.
Film 1 Badgers. (trail camera)
Following the Norman Conquest, King William I, designated the land as a royal hunting forest, reserved for the private use of the King and invited aristocracy. In the process over 20 small hamlets and farms were removed. It was the only forest described in detail in the ancient Domesday Book. Two of William the Conqueror’s sons were killed in hunting accidents in the New Forest. Today Deer roam free in many areas of the New Forest.
We came across several small herds of Fallow Deer, all young deer and hinds. The only shooting today was with cameras.
Film 2 Fallow Deer (trail camera).
Very windy weather on our walk but this male Chaffinch was holding on and singing his heart out – not easy filming with the tree moving so much in the wind.
Film 3 Chaffinch ( sound on to enjoy fully his singing).
Godwit film.
Around a car park.
Views around a New Forest car park where there is always something to see. A handful of birdseed always brings in some birds
First in today was Blue Tits, quickly followed by a squirrel and later a Robin.
There was some heavy traffic today that passed using one of the old WW2 aerodrome concrete roadways.
The Robin was having a bad hair day due to a strong easterly wind.
Downtime.
#Wordless Wednesday
Snipe.
The mating game.
Moorhen mating this afternoon, quick and consensual. The male follows the female across the waterway catches and mounts her. He holds her underwater before they go their own way. On reading up on these birds both birds will build the nest out of twigs and defend it with ferocity.
New Forest April visit.
Our first visit to the New Forest in April this year with a fair walk deep into the forest to collect camera footage from where we left our trail camera last week. Returning to the van we found another Badger’s sett – we now know where 3 setts are located – It is interesting that once you understand these mammals’ behaviour and how they build their setts you can spot clues in the landscape where to look. Below is the footage from my brother’s camera which got the best footage.
As always some Fallow deer sightings on our walk.
After the badger walk, we checked out a forest pond, where we saw our 1st ducklings of the year. This mum was being hassled by a group of drakes so she moved them away onto an island out of their reach.
Bird ID help.
Mediterranean Gull or Black-headed Gull (summer plumage).
For a long time, I tried to spot Mediterranean Gull among all the Black-headed gulls and was never quite sure I had seen one, last year I spotted a pair at Titchfield haven and when you see one it is clear they are different from the nearby Black-headed gulls. This year there are a lot more Mediterranean Gull although some distance away I made this film to show the differences.
Another pointer that is difficult to see in pictures or at a distance is the Black-headed Gull’s head black is in fact dark brown when you take a close look and the Mediterranean Gull has a jet black head colour.
Think Pink.
Another walk along the River Hamble today – yesterday we had a flurry of snow although it did not lay this morning’s walk was bitter with a biting wind blowing down the river.
The ferry on the Hamble between Warsash and Hamble-le-Rice today is an ‘on-demand’ passenger ferry service is summoned via mobile phones – when my boys were small you had to jump up and down until the ferryman spotted you. What has also changed is the waiting shelter on the riverbank and the ferry which are all today painted a bright pink were then blue.
Records show there has been a ferry on the site dating back to 1493 when the crossing was part of a pilgrim’s route. The ferry now provides a link for local, and national footpaths such as the Solent Way and the National Cycle Route 2.
A pair of Shelduck on the mud they are large ducks that are about the size of a small goose.
A Little Egret fishing as the tide comes in.
Black-tailed Godwits (+ a couple of Brent Geese) holding onto the last part of the land as the tide comes in.
Edit extra picture from one of my previous blogs. Ferry waiting hut.
Continued Reflections from my World. 